DUBAI // The first of 51 types of plants mentioned in the Quran have been planted in a new park themed on the holy book.
The 30 olive trees were planted in Holy Quran Park on Monday as part of Plantation Week activities.
Dr Rashid bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, and Hussain Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, attended along with Islamic scholars.
Mr Lootah said Plantation Week was a great move towards protecting the environment.
Fifty-one of the 54 varieties of plants and trees mentioned in the Quran will be found at the park in Al Khawaneej when it opens next year.
“Holy Quran Park is one of the most prestigious projects of the civic body. Not only the UAE, but the entire tourist world is waiting to visit the park,” said Mr Lootah.
The Dh26 million reserve was set to open in September next year, but he announced the project will be completed in the first half of 2015.
“The park has been designed in the Islamic perspective to introduce the miracles of the Quran through a variety of surprises for the visitors,” said Mr Lootah.
Covering about 64 hectares, it will also include an Islamic garden, children’s playgrounds, an Umrah corner, outdoor theatre, fountains, bathrooms, a desert garden, a palm oasis, a lake and running, cycling and walking tracks.
Plants mentioned in the Quran include fig, pomegranate, olive, corn, leek, garlic, onion, lentil, barley, wheat, ginger, pumpkin, watermelon, tamarind, cedar, vineyards, bananas, cucumbers and basil.
“We’ve managed to get all of the trees mentioned in the Quran that we can find,” Mr Lootah said.
A large glass greenhouse will accommodate 15 types of plants that require controlled climates and a man-made cave will depict some of the stories in the Quran and show examples of the miracles.
Mr Lootah said the municipality was at the forefront of policies to make Dubai one of the greenest cities in the world.
He said efforts had been doubled after Dubai won its bid to host Expo 2020.
Holy Quran Park is one of the most important and innovative projects undertaken by the civic body to increase green stretch, Mr Lootah said.
It will also give the visitors a chance to understand the Quran’s concept of environment.
Plantation Week activities take place every year across the UAE.
They began on Monday morning in Abu Dhabi at the Corniche’s Formal Park and included a ghaf tree exhibit and a gardening workshop.
malkhan@thenational.ae
